Tunable and Practical Synthesis of Thiosulfonates and Disulfides from Sulfonyl Chlorides in the Presence of Tetrabutylammonium Iodide

A tunable and practical synthesis of electrophilic sulfenylating reagents, thiosulfonates and disulfides, from inexpensive and easily available sulfonyl chlorides, has been developed. By appropriate choice of solvents, the reaction of sulfonyl chlorides and tetrabutylammonium iodide gave the target products in good to excellent yields, respectively. These transformations probably proceed through a reducing–coupling pathway.